Bhubaneswar: Shocking but true. Twenty four Bangladeshi Nationals have successfully obtained Indian passports by submitting fake documents which has rung alarm bells for the officials of Regional Passport Office at Bhubaneswar.

Though the passports of 24 Bangladeshi citizens have been revoked and five persons arrested by the authorities in the last one and half years, the whereabouts of 16 others are still unknown.

The Regional Passport Office has now brought the matter to the notice of the officials of the State Intelligence Bureau in this connection for further investigation about the 16 missing persons.

Officials of the Regional Passport Office here also admitted that the Bangladeshi Nationals were successful in obtaining passports by submitting fake or forged documents.

“The passports of 24 such persons were subsequently revoked while lookout circulars were issued against 21 persons and five were arrested from New Delhi and Mumbai,” said Passport Officer Digbijoy Giri.

Giri further informed that the matter had come to light after verification of such documents submitted by the applicants.

According to reports, the Bangladeshi Nationals in connivance with corrupt officials and brokers are able to procure fake voter ID card, birth certificates and residence proofs.

Earlier, Balasore police had arrested two Bangladeshi Nationals on February 12 who were trying to get passports by furnishing forged certificates at a mobile camp.

Official sources said, both the accused had been living in Mumbai and claimed that they were Indians and permanent residents of Basta in Balasore district.